Accompong Maroon Village 14.10.2012

The day started out with a scare as Charles thought the buses were not coming and he was gonna get a good flogging from the 70+ anxious persons. The buses (JUTC + Kosmo Tours Coaster) arrived at app. 6am, we stopped @ Clarendon Park 4 breakfast VIP style and then we were on our way. The drive up to Accompong was scary for some as the road was narrow and winding and the JUTC bus was big and had to navigate those corners. We can all agree that the JUTC bus driver needs a pay raise cuz he did a great job of getting there safely and back and also 4 being a good music selector! The Kosmo bus was just as entertaining but I will leave you all 2 guess the nature of our entertainment :).

Accompong Tour

The day started out with a lecture from the Deputy Colonel, he outlined the history of the maroons, how they got their name, the food they eat for nourishment and for sexual performance, politics and the general way of life.

Deputy Colonel

He then introduced us to our tour guides.... Damion and O'Neil. By the end of the tour though we had 2 others.

We can all agree that we had a major misconception as to what the tour would have been like. We all thought we would be touring the maroon village and listening 2 the history of the various sites. So some of us came attired Tourist style in shorts, sandals, hats and our cameras. Lo and Behold... we walked for 4 hrs starting in the hot sun and then the pelting rain. We came 2 a crossroads when we were trying 2 decide whether to see the peace cave or not. It would be an additional 30 mins walk. But being MTR..the decision was Cave!!! We walked, fell, slipped, sang,cussed, talked while going through the mud and water while it rained trying to see this cave.

At the Peace Cave

Most plp didn't get a chance 2 make it 2 the cave as it was extremely muddy and they were fatigued. So some of us braved it and we got the shock of our lives. Everybody started asking Damion "Damion weh d cave deh.. this cant be the cave, u want a lick" We were all staring at a hole in the rock. Could we deal with any more surprises???
Poor Damion didn't know what 2 say but he just had to keep walking. Of course, he surprised us again, by telling us we had another 1hr walk back 2 the village.. what else could we have done??? Either kill him and get stuck in the bush or just walk and enjoy. Walk and Enjoy it was!!!

Food and Magotty Waterfalls

All is well that ends well... as we were treated 2 a SCRUMPTIOUS meal. We had a choice of Stewed Pork, Fried Chicken, Baked Chicken, Curried Goat, Mackerel and Saltfish Run down, Rice and Peas, Boiled Food, Macaroni Salad and Raw Vegetable and to wash it all down there was June plum juice.
Typing that just made my mouth water! We also had dining entertainment courtesy of the maroon women showcasing their traditional dance moves... they did a good job. We enjoyed it.

I don't know if this was a disappointment but we didn't get a chance to head 2 the waterfalls as we were exhausted and the rain caused the river to become dirty so we wouldn't be able 2 swim. Those were the deciding factors so back 2 town it was.

We left Accompong Maroon Village at app. 4:30pm, made a stop at Juice Patties for abt 30 mins and we arrived back at Charlemont at app 8pm.

Big Ups!!

1. I want give a special big up to Charles Williams and Mike Chuck for organizing the buses. They did the leg work as I had work and couldn't get to leave.

2. Charles Williams for organizing with Ms. Rowe at Accompong regarding the food.

3. My fellow October planners.. Orrel and Monkey Mother.. oops I mean Shackeina.

The Gang

4.  The FnT Family for being a good adventure family as usual. If Charles was not by my side for this event I probably would have been beheaded. It was alot of work to organize the event but I am glad we did it and it went through smoothly and I really hope everyone had a great time.
We should start putting out a disclaimer 2 expect the unexpected on our events as I got the impression that some of our guests were not pleased. But I hope they still had fun and they will return to have a great time with us.

Another Adventure in the Bag.... KINDAH (One Family)!!!!!